03/08/2006 - August Public Meeting : We Want To Hear From You!

Welwyn Hatfield Council’s next summer public meeting takes place on Tuesday 15 August at Welwyn Civic Centre, Welwyn. The meeting starts at 7pm with refreshments available from 6.30pm.

This meeting will focus on one of the Council’s Five Promises – ‘We will make sure we are accountable to you’. So we want to find out from residents:

* How we should spend their money.
* How we should treat them as customers.
* How we should provide information to them.
* How we should involve them in setting local priorities.

We have acted on the feedback from our first meeting in Hatfield and there will be more time allocated to small Focus Groups at this meeting. This will enable residents to speak directly to councillors and officers in a more informal setting.

Councillor John Dean, Council Leader, said: “We are very keen for the public to get involved in our summer meetings. We’ll only know what you want if you tell us.  So how are we doing?  What do you think of our services?  How can we serve you better?

“We’ll listen carefully to what you say, and use this to help shape how we provide our services in the future. Welwyn Hatfield is your borough, your community – please come and be a part of it.”

To attend and ask questions, residents just need to turn up. So if you want the chance to tell the council face-to-face what you think the important issues are in the borough, this is your opportunity to do so.

There will be a third public meeting at 7pm on Wednesday 6 September at the Woodhall Community Centre in Welwyn Garden City. This meeting will focus on two more of the Council’s Five Promises – ‘We will make sure people have a decent home’ and ‘We will promote a sense of community in the borough.’ 

Following these public meetings, a State of Borough Debate will be held at 7pm on Thursday 21 September in the Council Chamber at Campus West. This Debate will draw together feedback from the public meetings and allow for additional debate on all the local issues facing Welwyn Hatfield.  All residents are welcome to attend this meeting – more details will be circulated nearer the time.

Residents who wish to learn more about the Corporate Plan can obtain a copy by calling 01707 357000, can pick one up from any council reception, or view and download on-line at (www.welhat.gov.uk).

END/PR/06/93

Notes to Editors:

The council’s Five Promises are:

1. We will work with the police and other agencies to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
2. We will make Welwyn Hatfield cleaner and greener.
3. We will make sure people have a decent home.
4. We will promote a sense of community in the borough.
5. We will make sure we are accountable to you.

In addition to the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council, representatives from the following services will be present at the August & September meetings:

August:
* Resources
* Housing
* Partnerships & Performance

September:
* Housing
* Planning & Environmental Health
* Community & Environmental Services
* Resources
* Partnerships & Performance